Former Barcelona player Abelardo Fernandez has criticized Lamine Yamal for publicly stating he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. Fernandez believes the teenage forward should have kept his opinion private, arguing it projects a negative image.
Yamal recently told Jorge Valdano, “I think I deserve the Ballon d'Or this year, given what I've won,” and further stated, “For me, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. It's clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it.” He positioned himself alongside Kylian Mbappe as top contenders for the award.
Fernandez, who earned 54 caps for Spain and spent eight years at Barcelona, wasn’t disputing Yamal’s self-assessment, but rather the public declaration. “You can think that, but you shouldn't say it. I don't think so, because it makes you look bad,” he said. He suggested Yamal could have acknowledged being a candidate without directly claiming he deserved the prize, stating, “You're not conveying anything positive in that regard. I think you can think it and say, 'Well, I might be among the favourites, but with these awards, you never know who they'll go to.'”
Fernandez also expressed similar disapproval of recent comments made by Mbappe regarding his own Ballon d’Or chances. He emphasized his criticism wasn’t unique to Yamal, stating, “I didn't like the fact that Lamine Yamal said that; just as I didn't like what Kylian Mbappe said in his interview the other day either.”
Drawing a comparison, Fernandez pointed out that Lionel Messi, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, has never made similar public pronouncements about deserving the award. “I've never heard Messi – who has been the god of football – say that,” he concluded.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy